Afghan Biographies

Naghma, Shahperai


Name Naghma, Shahperai
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth 1964
Function/Grade Femal Afghan Singer
History and Biodata

3. Biodata:

naghma shahperaiNaghma Shahperai mostly known as Naghma was born on January 1, 1964, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. She belongs to the Pashtun ethnic group and is one the prominent Afghan singer who started in the early 1970s.

Shahperai has around 3000 songs on her credit. In addition, she has performed in dozens of concerts around the globe. As a young girl she was intrigued by music and had the talent and passion required to gain a worldwide fame in music. Her performance as a traditional Afghan music icon has inspired masses both in Afghanistan and abroad.

Singing is hardly accepted as a career for a woman in Afghanistan where religion and Afghan traditions play crucial role in every aspect of life. Originating from an Afghan family, Shaperai faced strong domestic resistance but fate had other plans for the young Kandahari girl. Feeling that her life was under constant threat she left her native city and moved to a much more open city of Kabul where she had the chance to perform at Kabul Radio.

After the war in Afghanistan prolonged and life in Kabul was not safe anymore Naghma had no choice other than to leave her country and migrate to neighboring Pukhtunistan province in Pakistan. She continued her music career there which gradually gave her the opportunity to appear on national TV in Pakistan and thereby reach masses not only in Pukhtunistan but Pashtoons all around Pakistan.


Naghma married Mangal, a very well known singer from Laghman. The couple became one of the most popular music icons throughout Afghanistan. They have sung songs in Pashto and Dari and are equally popular among other ethnic groups. The couple divorced after a long and successful career and are now concentrating on their careers as solo singers.

Naghma sings in Pashto and Dari (Persian). Her music is popular in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

Prominent Afghan singer Shahperai Naghma received the best civil award from the Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari for her best performance in conveying the peace message. (20130324) Naghma received the president’s pride of permance award along with Shahida Minni and Shahida Latif.

Last Modified 2013-03-24
Established 2013-03-24